An Open Streets Family Reunion: Reflections from the 2018 Open Streets Summit

By Ryan O’Connor, Director of Programs, 8 80 Cities Recently 8 80 Cities wrote a blog post about open streets being a labour of love. That being the case, the 2018 Open Streets Summit in New Orleans felt like a family reunion of sorts. It was rejuvenating to see old and new friends who share our passion for open streets and are working tirelessly to create healthier, happier, and more connected communities across the world. The event, which took place on September 15-16, brought together more than 50 leaders who currently organize open streets programs or are interested in bringing the...

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Open Streets Summit Draft Agenda

We hope you are getting ready and feel excited about the Open Streets Summit in Gretna/New Orleans! Taking place from September 15-16, 2018, the Summit will feature tours, presentations and networking opportunities with open streets champions and organizers from across the continent. Attendees will learn about the nuts and bolts of starting or scaling up open streets programs, including: Route design and planning Partnerships with business and officials Social inclusion Safety and logistics Marketing and promotion Program evaluation through measurable goals and metrics If you haven’t done it yet, click here to register for the Open Streets Summit only or...

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Open Streets Summit Speakers Announced!

The Open Streets Project is proud to announce that Ed Solis from Viva Calle (San Jose, CA), Romel Pascual from CicLAvia (Los Angeles, CA), Jaymie Santiago and Charles Brown from New Brunswick Ciclovia will join us as speakers for the 2018 Open Streets Summit in New Orleans and Gretna! Taking place from September 15-16 2018, the Summit will feature: Behind the scenes tour of the City of Gretna’s inaugural open streets program. Workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities with open streets champions and organizers from across the continent. Training and inspiration for both -novice and experienced- open streets organizers and supporters...

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Celebrate Skip the Straw Day with LISC Borrower, Camp Craft Cocktails

Did you know 14 million plastic straws pollute the world's beaches and waterways, making straws one of the top ten pieces of trash collected every year by coastal cleanup crews?

“Passion and Curiosity” and a Commitment to the Imperative of DEIJ: Q&A with Justin Fernando

Justin Fernando joined LISC as its first senior director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice earlier this year, at a time when LISC is intensifying its commitment to those areas of work, both within the organization and through our engagement with communities and funders. Justin shares how his approach to DEI&J has developed over the course of his career, and discusses the ways the work can be carried out at and by LISC to help us truly realize our mission.

“Steadfast, Remain Humble, Patience”: One Woman’s Mantra on the Road to Financial Stability

April is Financial Capability Month, and LISC is lifting up the stories of people who are forging greater economic stability with support from LISC’s Financial Opportunity Centers and Bridges to Career Opportunities programs. Shannettea Joseph is one of those people. The relationship she has built with her financial coach at North Lawndale Employment Network in Chicago has helped her overcome real hurdles: first, barriers to reentry after a prison term, and most recently, the financial fallout of the pandemic while caring for sick family members.